What's in our Car Town garage today? (December 18, 2012)

What's in our Car Town garage today?

1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Appeared in a hilarious redneck car chase movie, titled Smokey and the Bandit, starring Burt Reynolds, you're looking at the legend that took places where no car has gone before. Big Enos was right about this because this is a legendary muscle car you'll find it hard to catch behind the wheel.

1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

1934 Chrysler Airflow

Now when Chrysler launched the Airflow back in the 1930's, Chrysler made a marketing stint for this car. They've stuck the car going backwards throughout Detroit, Michigan and this kind of marketing is just one of the examples Chrysler had planned something big, meaning that this car will emerge that no other car has to offer.

1934 Chrysler Airflow

2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

When it was debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, this was hailed as America's most powerful production car and it became the benchmark for General Motors' performance benchmark. Countless motorsport involvements with the Corvette had been tinkered to this remarkable achievement that transforms the Corvette into a half-decent supercar that competes against Europe's and Japan's finest.

2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The 500th Lexus LFA is produced. The end of Lexus' supercar...

Sad news folks, as planned, Toyota Motor Corporation has produced the 500th, and the last, Lexus LFA supercar in its Motomachi plant.

The Lexus LFA supercar was limited to 500 units worldwide, with 20 units produced monthly from December 2010 to December 2012.

It's official folks. The 500th LFA was produced and this is farewell to Japan's V10 supercar as we know it.

Goodbye, Lexus LFA.

Scoop: http://www.carview.co.jp/news/2/178076/

Volvo V40 Cross Country

2013 Volvo V40 Cross Country

Okay, this isn't what it exactly meant to be but why would Volvo brought back the "Cross Country" name for this sport utility wagon version of the V40 instead of another XC like the XC70, XC60, and the XC90? Don't blame me, blame Volvo why did they resurrect the Cross Country moniker. Some say that the terms XC and Cross Country are synonyms but Volvo said they're not. What's the difference? Volvo says that XC models have a distinct crossover character with unique body-styles including an elevated seating position, while the Cross Country models are expressive all-road versions of our dynamic wagons and hatchbacks. Huh? Wait a minute...Never mind about that whole conundrum set up by Volvo because you know why? I just don't get it.

Anyway, this new version is 40mm higher than the standard V40 and with such height increase comes with some added looks such as retaining the same rim sizes from the original, contrasting bumper, honeycomb mesh grille, upright DRL-lights, sculpted sills, and the contrasting rear bumper with integrated skid plate. It maybe just the same V40 look with some cosmetically enhanced toughness but overall, the XC err... Cross Country version tries to be a tough one even though in this such size as a hatchback.

For a car like this, the V40 Cross Country is kinda targeted for the outdoorsy type of person, someone who loves to go out for the great outdoors such as the mountains, the forest, the falls, or whatever nature made for us. Thinking about it, if you were going out BMX-ing, fishing, hunting deers, fortune hunting, or something what an adventure lover really want to, seems that this is the kind of Volvo for them if they can't afford on the XC models.

I was just wondering, in such cars like this, I am becoming more of a half-businessman, half-adventurer, meaning that there's all work, all play for me, meaning that I can use it to go to the office for work, or use it while going out for my leisure trip such as going for a game of basketball, or billiards, or boxing, or a dance-off by night, or anything that kills my boredom amidst the stringent schedule done by the times. Here in the V40 Cross Country, this is possible for me. I think it's better to drive and better to have one than the Subaru XV but don't think of ever getting one of these because in terms of pricing, it's much more expensive than the Subaru XV. Despite pricing, the V40 Cross Country has more features than the Subaru XV and also, they both have the same safety features especially the one that automatically brakes in the near-collision scenario.

Unlike the XV, which only comes with a 2.0L petrol engine, the V40 Cross Country do come with a host of petrol and diesel engines such as the 115PS D2, 150PS D3, 177PS D4, 180PS T4, and the 254PS T5 (the most powerful in the lineup). The T5 model of the V40 Cross Country comes with all wheel drive with class leading driving dynamics so you can go anywhere no matter what, even in the rain. Sounds reasonable and the Powershift transmission, available on the T4 model, is just another double-clutch goodness for this car. This is much better than the "Taters Donna Tate" CVT stuff in the XV.

It maybe cost more than the Subaru XV but the V40 Cross Country is just one of the examples that a Swedish-based carmaker can think of, despite the fact that it was made by Belgians in Ghent. It maybe more expensive than the XV but with all of the features loaded, this is much more of a premium blend. It's like Nescafe premium blend best served hot in a nice coffee table made out of wood.

Seat Leon Third generation (Typ 5F)

The SEAT Leon...if my memory serves me correctly, the Leon is nothing more of a Volkswagen Golf with a bit of se habla espanol because it is just a Spanish equivalent to the Golf. This car may have spawned two generations but it still won't deny that it's still a VW Golf after taking Spanish lessons. Besides, it does come with the same engine choices from the Golf as well...

2013 Seat Leon

At long last, a full model change for the Seat Leon and hey, do you think it still has the guts of other Leons to prove it has the wit to stay competitive? Do you think it's going to feel like Leon the Professional? Leon Guerrero? Leon S. Kennedy? Sadly, it's a no because this is just the same old Leon for nothing because even though it's an all new model, it still just based on the Golf 7 because of its new MQB platform developed by Volkswagen Group for future models. Let's not forget that future VW Group models will be using this new platform no matter which body style they're on.

2013 Seat Leon interior

First of all is the design and this one's rather looking similar. The new Leon is becoming more like the big brother of the recently facelifted Seat Ibiza compact car. When you put them both, just look at them. Their fronts really look like it was some sort of inheritance of genes, just like when a little boy has the nose of his father's and the pubic hair of his. Okay, it's going to be too cheesy for words but anyway, how about the interior? It seems that VW's doing the right thing to make the Leon more accessible for the drivers because most of the switches, buttons and controls in the new SEAT Leon are located exactly where the driver would expect them to be. New to the Leon is the techie-favored Easy Connect system which features a user-friendly touch-screen. For beginners, the Media System Touch gets a CD player with SD card slot, four speakers and a five-inch touchscreen while for the advanced yuppies, the Media System Colour includes a better screen, six speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and aux-in. Then, comes the Media System Plus, which adds iPod connectivity, DAB, voice recognition, eight speakers and sat nav, and finally, the SEAT Sound System, which upgrades to ten speakers and a sub-woofer. Sounds lovely and this is becoming a premium hatchback in its own right when most of the concessions to comfort and convenience are bundled together in the all new Leon.

2013 Seat Leon

There are several kinds of engines available on the new Seat Leon such as a 1.2 TSi, 1.4 TSi, 1.8 TSi, 1.6 TDi, and a 2.0 TDi engine. Choosing either of these engine lineups is like choosing for your Pringles flavor of choice at your nearest 7-Eleven convenience store but whichever side you're on, you might be expecting a choice of either a five- or six-speed manuals and seven-speed DSG twin clutch systems.

When you take your foot on, the Seat Leon feels like you're swimming with hard candy that smells like menthol and tastes like fruit...and menthol. They're like MAXX menthol candies to me when I'm driving one because when I bite one of these, it feels a bit rough but by not biting one of my MAXX's, it feels a bit okay to me, it soothes me right until the MAXX in my mouth is shrunken down to nothingness. That's how the driving feel of the new Leon feels like, having a piece of my favorite fruit-menthol hard candy in my mouth and decide if I'm going for the fast but rough way or the slow but sensual way.

It might be a VW Golf taking so much Spanish lessons but the new Seat Leon (Typ 5F) can make a decent opponent to the likes of the Citroen C4, Alfa Romeo Giuletta, Peugeot 308, or the brand new Renault Clio. As for me, I didn't like this new model in terms of its design because it looks like an oversized Ibiza to me. Seems like some alien boy's busy playing with his grow ray and he accidentally zap it on the parked Ibiza in Madrid until it grew into something. He he he... Anyway, as for the driving style, it's harsh but when you take it slowly, it's not that harsh. Remember the fruit-menthol candy reference I'm talking about. It was quite a surprise that VW Group invested a few Euros just to regenerate the Leon...only know is can the Leon cope up in Spain's current economic climate? I mean of course, there's been a huge debt crisis lingering on in Europe for several months now and I think the Leon might not work here unless it has the chance. Besides, now that SEAT is coming to China, will the Chinese appreciate the new Leon more? Spoilers...

PRICE LIST:


León 1.6 TDI CR 90 CV (66 kw) Emoción 17.720 €
León 1.6 TDI CR 90 CV (66 kw) Reference 19.770 €
León 1.6 TDI CR 105 CV Start&Stop (77 kw) Reference 20.300 €
León 1.4 TSI 122 CV Start&Stop (90 kw) Style 20.330 €
León 1.4 TSI 140 CV Start&Stop (103 kw) Style 20.870 €
León 1.6 TDI CR 105 CV Start&Stop (77 kw) Style 21.900 €
León 2.0 TDI CR 150 CV Start&Stop (110 kw) Style 23.250 €
León 1.4 TSI 122 CV Start&Stop (90 kw) FR 21.790 €
León 1.4 TSI 140 CV Start&Stop (103 kw) FR 22.330 €
León 2.0 TDI CR 150 CV Start&Stop (110 kw) FR 24.710 €

Let's Do The News! (December 15, 2012)

River's Diary

Right, what's the news today you spoiler-laden TARDIS journal?

Terror in the kindergarten

If you think that the mass murder during the showing of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES at some theater in Colorado was the worst to happen this year, this one's gets worse, literally. There was a massacre occurred at some kindergarten in Newtown, CT. and some say, 20 kids were slain as well as others, including the principal, and the mother (who is a teacher of this kindergarten) of the suspect responsible of this mass murder. Wouldn't you believe it? 20 kids aged from 5 to 10 were slain, butchered, and killed by some heartless murderer.

That brings us a question, will our schools especially kindergartens need to be more secured in times of attacks like these? Those poor children...we can never reclaim their lives. We've lost a lot of children and a lot of hope for the holidays especially their futures. These deaths may be considered a fixed point and fixed points CANNOT be rewritten.

Scoop: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/14/us-connecticut-towns-idUSBRE8BD0U120121214

Astonishingly stupid...

Sure, Facebook ads are made to targeting users based on their interest. What if that content is tragedy? A concerned Facebook user noticed some ad about a shooting game while breaking his silence about a massacre in Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT.

Sickening and offensive targeted ad

Scoop: http://www.fastcompany.com/3004041/targeted-facebook-ad-goes-horribly-wrong-after-newtown-school-shooting

This concerned Facebook user would say "You showed this kind of ad up during the Newtown massacre" ASTONISHINGLY STUPID for that kind of advertising...

2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra revealed

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

2014 GMC Sierra

Looks like you made it. That's the lyric of the song with the same title though and that's how you've expressed since the full model change of the Chevrolet Silverado and its GMC Sierra twin for the 2014 model year were revealed online ahead of its world premiere at next month's NAIAS in Detroit. Specs remain few for now but GM says that there's been downsizing of engines, meaning that these two pickups are now carrying 4.3-liter V6 and 5.3- and 6.2-liter V8 engines. Still, these next-generation GM pickup trucks are becoming one of the most dependable workhorses in North America. If your name starts with Dave, you can't get one because most Daves drive Ford pickups. (laughing)

Twinkie, anyone?

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/12/2014-chevy-silverado-and-gmc-sierra.html

Oh, and speaking of twinkies...

Last shipment of Twinkies lands in Chicago

One of the most iconic snacks in America, which is the Twinkies (well known for its so-called shelf life), met its demise when the company that makes the Twinkies, which is Hostess, declared bankrupt. If you live in Chicago and if you love Twinkies, this is the last chance to buy one because the last shipment of Twinkies were landed in Chicago and once its sold out, it will spell the end of the Twinkie era until (if and when) the brand is bought and restarted. Quite ironic that Twinkies never die but seems that the financial trouble did killed one of America's most iconic snacks.

Scoop: http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2012/12/11/15840307-last-hostess-twinkies-shipped-to-chicago-area-supermarkets?lite

2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class minor change revealed

2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

For its facelifted version of the current-generation E-Class, it ushered a new age of the luxury brand. For starters, the four separate headlamps, an E-Class staple since 1995, were ditched in favor of a single one-piece unit on each side that encompasses all lighting elements. The same case happened on the new GS when the four separate headlamps were ditched and replaced with a one-piece unit. What I heard that this facelifted version, in sedan and estate model, will come with new engine choices and new technologies. Welcome everyone to the new age of Mercedes-Benz...

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/12/revamped-2014-mercedes-benz-e-class.html

WALD customizes the 2013 Lexus LS

WALD Lexus LS (2013)

Seems that the facelifted Lexus LS flagship model is looking good enough to get some modifications for some "gangland style". With WALD, they made it possible to add some spice on the looks of the new Lexus LS! Set to be revealed at the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon, no additional details given for this WALD Lexus LS modification program but what they did there is lowering its ground clearance, adding some muscular body kit, oversized rims that is enough to attract the yakuzas, and more that they will mention it later...

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/12/2013-lexus-ls-facelift-slammed-down-by.html

ARTISAN SPIRITS creates body kit for Lexus LFA

Artisan Spirits Lexus LFA

For the first time in LFA history, here comes the aftermarket injection provided by Artisan Spirits.  They're made from carbon fiber, there’s a front lip spoiler, side steps, rear under steps, trunk spoiler, and a front license plate holder. The full aero kit will cost about ¥1,500,000 (or $17,957 USD) in Japan, so that's costly if you have the rarest Lexus car in the world.

URL: http://artisanspirits.co.jp/car-lineup/lexus/lfa/lfa-ssl/index.html

Elia tunes the Renault Dacia Duster

Elia Dacia Duster

German-based tuner, Elia, tries to get their hands dirty by modifying the Renault/Dacia Duster to bring some bling bling for the buck. Modifications to the Duster were done with some matte black styling kit that includes the wheel arch extensions, the lower halves of the bumpers, the mirrors and the door decals, along with an assortment of chrome accessories such as the front and rear bull bars, rocker panels and the 20-inch wheels.

If cops see you drive one of these, watch out though...Modified cars are becoming a leading cause of motoring-related criminal activities...

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/12/elia-brings-in-bling-to-dacia-duster-suv.html

Our Norton AntiVirus subscription was expried...

Oh dear, it seems that our Norton AntiVirus software was expired today. Guess I'm gonna need to buy another one-year subscription to Norton AntiVirus...

Two epic flavors in one!

On the December 14, 2012 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Christmas dance rehearsal gags...

- Can I interest you with some bullet-proof shirt?

- This guy's too shy for some socialism

- Again, Tata Lino's back for more quotes to live by...

- Bubble Gang does Selecta Cornetto Black and White by spoofing this commercial as Selesta Surenetto Black and White! Two epic flavors in one!

- Tessie Tomas guests stars in a sketch called Showbiz Dynasty as some politician who's bothered about showbiz dynasties...

- Brod Pete and his pals are here again to answer life's hardest

- Sa mabuting usapan, ba't di mo na lang daanin... sa ECHOSANALAN!

- IyoTube in Michael Jackson's Billie Jean.

Forza Horizon: Built for the road ahead

You can't beat the classics!

Living it up to its name

Whether if its the legendary Ford GT40 Mk.II that ruled Le Mans in the 1960's or the sensation of 2005, which is the Ford GT, that tries to modernize its superior predecessor, these are the best Fords I have ever driven in Forza Horizon. Sure, they maybe gone a few years ago but their sensations never been forgotten. I can't believe that in the past, Ford made their own Le Mans contender in the 60's to kick Enzo Ferrari's butt and then in the 21st Century, they made a modern take of the GT40 that bring Ford to the world of performance benchmark, gaining the slogan "Built for the Road Ahead" at that time.

I think they looked so fantastic to drive such legends and I think it's even more fabulous to drive this...

A topless Ford GT?!

This is one of the cars you can find on Forza Horizon's December IGN Car Pack. It's the never-before seen Ford GTX1, a roadster version of the Ford GT as seen on the 2005 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Sure it may have the same engine from the hardtop Ford GT but with no roof, this is no ordinary open-top Ford by the looks of it, this is just hotter than a hickory smoke sausage! Woo-hoo!

Ford said that the GTX1 blends Ford design and engineering innovation, one engineer’s personal creativity and commitment, and the quickness and capability of the aftermarket. I kinda understand that but this is even more than that. This is love at a completely new level every time I set foot to the GTX1. The perfect backdrop in Horizon is just a perfect chemistry to show how the GTX1 was made to do and would you look at that, getting lost in Colorado with this kind of car, now what a charm for me.